Auxiliary locking device for vault doors



M. J.l ISEBRANDS.

AUXILIAHY LOCKING DEVICE FOR VAULT DOORS. APPucATxoN FILED ocr. i2, 192].

1,436,810.; Patented @015. 3,1922. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. n4 -mgl, l TEE l /M i? W W r' M J- ebrand M. JQISEBR/xms.' AUXILIARY LOCKING DEVICE FOR VAULT DOO'RS.

APPIICATION'FILED 061312, |92I.

'Patented Oct. 3, 1922..'

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented Det. 3, 1922.

UNITED STATES MENNO J. ISEBRANDS. OF IBL-AIRSBURG, IO'WA.

AUXILIT'ARX LOCKING DEVXCE FOR VAULT Application filed Detener 12, 1921. Serial No. 597,306.

To all 'lc/wm it 77mg/ concern .1

Be it known that l, MnNNo J. lenen-mns, a citizen of the lslnited States, residing` at Blairsburg'. in the county of Hamilton and State of lowa, have inventedv certain new and useful Improvements in .-.lruxiliary Locking` Devices for Vault Doors, of which the following is a specification. reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

rlhis invention relates to vault doors, and particularly to the locking device thereof.

The general object is to provide means which. if the lock be tampered with, will drop down into position to hold the bolts projected, and particularly to provide means for this purpose so constructed that if the locking` mechanism be injured or destroyed by nitroglycerine or other explosives, or the shank of the operating arm of the lock be sawed or cut off by heat, the bolts will be locked by the locking device from any retraction. i

Another object is to provide a very simple means to this end which will act to lock the master bar, whereby all the bolts are operated.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein :4-

Figure 1 is an elevation of a vault door with the improved locking' mechanism thereon. the bolts beingshown as projected and the safety device raised;

Figure 2 is a like view to Figurel 1, but showing the arm of the handle and the shank oit' the lock nut, and the safety locking device fallen into place to prevent retraction of the bolts;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view approximately on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 1-11 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a troughshaped fusible member which acts to hold the auxiliary locking device in inoperative position;

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates the outer plate of a vault door of any suitable oonstruction, and 11 the usual iron frame bolted or screwed to the vault door for holding the locking bolts of the vault door. Four main locking bolts 12 are illustrated disposed in parallel relation and extending ina horizontal plane, these bolts being,- longitudinally shiftableinto projected position, and two vpairs of vertical locking bolts are shown, designated ljfwhich are adapted to be shifted4 vertically in order to project the bolts 13 or retract them. The bolts12 are all connected by a vertically extending master bar 111 which is operatively connected to the bolts 12,'and each pair of bolts 13 is connected by a bar 15, in turn connected by a bell crank lever 16 to the adjacent bolts 12. `This bell crank lever is pivoted upon the main body of the door, as at 17, under the frame 11, It will thus be obvious that when the bolts 12 are projected the bolts 13 will be projected and when the bolts 12 are retracted the bolts 13 will be retracted. The shiftingof the bar 141- and, therefore, the projectingV of the bolts 12 is secured by means of the usual handle 18 disposed upon the exterior of the door. This handle on its inner face is formed with an arm 19 and an arm 19, the arm 19 having a socket 2O formed at its ends for engage ment with the bolt 22 of the permutation lock. otherwise connected to the master bar 1141- in such manner that Awhen the handle 18 is turned, the `master bar may be moved in the direction of the arrow a in Figure 1. A combination or permutation lock 21 of conventional form is mounted upon the doeiI and has a bolt 22 which.y when projected, extends into the socket 20. Thus when this bolt. is projected the handle 18 cannot be rotated.

rllhe purpose of the invention` as beiore stated, is to provide means. if the combination lock is blown off or knocked oft the door7 or .if the arm 19 or bolt 22 is cut off by heat, acting automatically to lock against the master bar 14 to prevent any inward movement of this bar so that the bolts will be still held projected, this auxiliary locking device, however, remaining inoperative so long as the lock and the arm 19 are not damaged, so as not to interfere with the ordinary use of the lock.` The means which have been devised for this purpose consists of preferably two bars 23 which are respectively tiltably mounted upon one of the bolts 12 above they lock 21 and on one of the bolts 12 below the lock 21,y these bars remaining stationary at all times7 except when the combination or permutation lock is blown olf, or when the arm 19 or bolt 22 'is cut by heat. The bars 23 are held raised far enough at their ends which carry the shoulders 25 to allow bolts 12 to move longitudinally when main. lock is operating.

The arm 1,9a is pivoted at 19h or tends beneath the'y master bar 14 and is` formed adjacent its end with a shoulder 25 inward of the master bar. Then a bar 23 drops to a horizontal position, as illustrated in Figure 2, this shoulder will engage against the master bar 14 and hold the bar from any inward movement. T he extremity of each locking bar 24 extends between the master bar 14 and the door 10 so that the locking bar is thus guided in its downward movement and cannot Jfall out oi position.

For the purpose of normally holding the bars 23 in an inclined position with their shoulders spaced from the inner edge ot the bar 147 supporting rods 26 and 23 are pi'v otally connected to the upper and lower bars 23. The adjacent vterminal ends '2T and 29 of the rods 26 and 28 are :termed with hooks` A member 30 constructed ot any suitable fusible substance, such as fusible metal or the like, has one end fastened at 30?L to the `iframe 11 and its other end at 30h to a circular plate upon the back of the combination or permutation lock.v This usual circular plate on the back oit the combination or permutation lock covers and holds the interior working elements (not shown) ot the combination lock in place, it being obvious that when this circular plate is removed, the interior working parts or elements oit the combination lock are tree to be removed or adjusted.

Nhen it is desired to detach the circular plate from the back of the casing ot the combination lock, the screws or other means holding the plate to the combination lock will be removed and the plate with the fusible member 30 will swing downward upon the bolt 30a as a pivot.

The fusible member 30 has its lower edge bent upward and outward away from the door, as illustrated more particularly in Figure 5, so as to form a flange and the upper face of this flange has a compound curve to form two crests 30C and a valley 30d. The hooks 2T and 29 of the rods-26 and 23 engage this upturned flange of the fusible member 30 so as to support the bars 23, as shown in Figure 1, the two crests 3()c preventing any swinging movement of these rods 26 and 23, the hooks of which will liein the valley 30d.

It will be obvious now that it the lock be blown oft` o1' ii the bolt 19 be out through, or be burned through by means ot an acetylene torch or by an electric are. that the `fusible member 3() will either be torn away,l cut through, or will fuse under the heat` and in any case it will separate, as illustrated in Figure 2, and the two halves will drop down, thus permitting the supporting` rods 26 and 23 to drop down, whereupon the u pper and lower locking bars 23 willdr pto ahori- Zontal position with their shoulders engaging behind the arm 14, thereby preventing any retraction of this arm, and thereby locking all the bolts oit the door and holding said bolts in locked position lfn order to operate the lock and open the door after the safety lock comprising the bars has dropped to its locking position. wires 33 and 34 are provided which are attached to the locking bars 23 each at one end. lThe opposite end ot each wire is att" ched to a support 35 or 36, as illustrated in the drawings. rllhe'spe wires normally are loose, as shown in Figure 1, bu t are drawn more or less taut when the lockingbars23 drop to their locking positions. The location ot' these wires 33 and 34 with reference to their supporting means 35 `and 36 and the reifen ence to their location on the bars is to be individual to any particular' sate. .ln other words, the location. of the supporting members and 36 and the point ot attachment of the wires 33 and 34 to the locking bars 33 is to be varied or changed in each and every installation so that, it possible, the wires 33 and 34 will not be arranged alike in any two safes.

Where a sate door is equipped with a safety lock oi thecharacter described, a plan or diagram is made as to the arrangement of the wires 33 and 34, which plan or diagram is, of course, secret and is only to be used in case an attempt is made to open the safe. Then an attempt is made by bur glars to open the sate and the locking bars 23 drop, it is, of course, impossible to open the safe until the locking bars 23 havebeen raised. Reference is then had to the diagram which discloses the location of the wires 33 and 34. The wall ot the door may then be drilled with small holes adjacent where the wires 33 and 34 are disposed and then a small hook or other like tool may be inserted through these holes in order to engage the flexible wires 33 or 34, which may be pulled through the holes far enough to insure a firm grip thereon. The wires 33 and 34 are then pulled sulliciently to raise the bars 23 to a point where the shoulders 25 will disengage from behind the master bar 14. Then the bar 14 may be actuated by the handle 18 and the locking bolts be shifted to unlocked positions, thereby permitting the door to swing open.

Gbviously the various details illustrated may be Varied in many ways without departing from the spirit of the invention, and these details `will, of course, Vary Ain accordance with variations in the locking mechanism and structure of the door. The safety locking device may be constructed to llO be applied to vault doors ol any ordinary construction.

1. The combination With a vault door, bolts therefor, a handle for operating' the bolts, means for locking the handle from operation including a bolt shiiablc into or out of engagement With the handle, of auxiliary locking` devices. and means supporting` the auxiliary locking;l devices in inoperative position including' a 'fusible member extend-- ing across the junction of the bolt and handle and adapted to be separated by injury to the bolt or handle. the member being pivotally supported so that when separated it may swing` to a releasing position.

2. rl`he combination with a vault door, bolts therefor, a handle for operating the bolts and means tor locking the handle from operation includingl a bolt shiftable into or out of engagement ivith the handle, auxiliary locking devices, and means supporting the auxiliary locking devices in an inoperative position including' a `fusible member extend"- ing across the junction oit the bolt and handle and pivotally supported at its opposite ends and adapted to be separated by injury to the bolt or handle and When separated swinging to a releasing position.

3. The combination With a vault door, bolts therefor, a handle tor operatingthe bolts and means for locking the handle trom operatinga including a bolt shittable into or out of engagement with the handle, of auxiliary lockingmembers, rods connected to said members, and means engaging` the rods to thereby support the auxiliary locking;` members in an inoperative position rincluding,` a fusible member extending across the junction of the bolt and handle and upon which the ends of said rods rest, the fusible member being pivotally supported at its oppositie ends, the separation oit the fusible member releasme; said rods.

t. The combination with a vault door havn ing' a plurality of' lockingbolts and a master bar movable in one direction to project the bolts and in another direction to retract the bolts, of a handle 'for shifting' the door, lockingmechanism preventing the shiftingof the handle, a plurality of auxiliary lockingmembers mounted upon the door and having shoulders adapted, when the auxiliary loching' members are shifted to operative position, to engage behind the master bar and hold it :trom retraction, a fusible member operatively connected to one end of the locklng mechanism at the other end to a part of the door and extending across the junc tion between the locking` mechanism and the handle, and a plurality of supporting rods normally resting; upon and detachably engaging said member and each connected to one of the auxiliary locking members and normally supporting` them in an inoperative position, the breakage of the lockingf mechanism and ot the handle causing the break age of said fusible member and a dropping of said supporting rods and the release of the auxiliary locking members.

5. A vault door of the character described having a plurality oli' lockingbolts, a shittable master bar operatively connected to said locking bolts to cause their retraction or projection, a handle having` an arm upon the inner face of the door'operatively connected to said master bar to cause its retraction or projection as the handle is turned,A a locali including;` a projectable bolt adapted when projected to engage said handle to prevent its rotation, auxiliary locking bars operatively mounted upon the inner tace ot the door and havingr shoulders which, when the locking, bars are in a horizontal position, Will engage behindthe master bar to prevent its retraction, means for sustainingl said auXil iarylocling bars in an inclined position'comprising supporting rods connected to the locking bars, and a member operatively connected to the frame of the door upon the inner face ot the door and extending" beyond the lock of the door, said member being' adapted to be released by injury to parts oi the lockimgT mechanism Jfor the doorl to thereby cause the auxiliary locking' bars to drop to their locking position with the shoulders against the master bar. Y

6. The combination with a vault door having` bolts and means Jfor shitting the bolts into or out otlprojeeted position including` a master bar projectable in one direction to project the bolts and in another direction to retract the bolts, ot a handle on the ei;H

terior of the door operatively connected to the master bar to retract or project the bolts, locking" devices operatively engaged with said handle to prevent its shifting, auxiliary locking' members operatively supported upon the door and having' shoulders adapted When. the auxiliary locking members are shifted to an operativeposition to engage behind the master bar and hold it from retraction, a member operatively connected to the trame of the door upon the inner tace oit the door and extending across the juncture of the operating connection between said locking` device and the handle, supporting` rods detachably engagiing;- said member 'and connected to the auxiliary locking members and normally supporting,- them in inoperative positions, the destruction oit' said member causing;` the dropping of said supporting rods and the release ot the auxiliary` locking members, and means connected to the auxiliary locking members whereby they may be raised to their unlockingv position.

L7. The combination with a vault door havingr bolts and means for shifting the bolts into or out of projected position includinga master bar projectable in one direction to behind the master bar and hold it from 11etraction, a member operatively connected to the frame of the door upon the inner face of the door and extending); across the juncture of the operating conn ction between said locking device and the handle, supporting rods detachably engaging said member and connected to the auxiliary loclinp,r members and normally supporting' them in inoperative positions, the destruction of said member causing the dropping of said sup= gortingrods and the release of the auxiliary locking members, and flexible connections each attached at one end to the door and at the other end to the corresponding auxiliary locking: memberv and affording means whereby the auxiliary locking members may be raisedto an inoperative position by drilling through the door adjacent the flexible connections. i

8. The combination with a vault door having bolts and means for shifting the bolts in or out of projected position including` a master bar, a handle operatively connected to the master bar to shift it, locking mechanism adapted to operatively engage said handle to prevent its being shifted, a supporting" member operatively mounted upon the inner face of the door and extending across the juncture between said locking mechanism and the handle and being,` disposed closely adjacent thereto whereby any attempt to break said connection between the handle and the locking mechanism will divide said member, an auxiliary locking member mounted upon the door and having a shoulder adapted when the auxiliary locking; member is shifted to operative position to engage behind the master bar and hold it from retraction, and a support operatively engaging said auxiliary loc-hing member and holding it in inoperative position and operatively engaging said. supporting` member, the breakage of said supporting' member causing` the dropping` of said support and the release of the auxiliary locking` member.

9. ri, vaultdoor of the character described l'iavinn a plurality of horizontally disposed loci-ring' bolts, a vertically extending' master bar operatively connected to said locking bolts to cause their retraction or projection as the master bar is shifted, a handle operatively connected to said master bar to cause its projection or retraction as the handle is turned, the handle having,` an arm upon the inner face of the door, a lock including,- a bolt adapted when projected to engage said arm to prevent the rotation of the handle, a relatively frail supporting' member attached to said lock at one end and at its other end operatively attached to the door and extending across the junction between said boltand the arm on the handle and closely adjacent thereto whereby if any Vattempt be made to detach the lock from the handle the supporting` member will be divided and swing downward, auxiliary locking` bars operatively mounted upon the innerI face of the door for swinging movement in a vertical plane, the free ends of the auxiliary locking members being disposed between the ends of the door and the master baigsaid lockingr bars having shoulders which, when the locking bars are in a horizontal position, will engage behind the master bar to prevent its retraction, and means for sustainingr said auxiliary locking bars in an inclined position, said means being supported by said relatively frail supporting member.

ln testimony whereof l hereunto a-iiix my signature.

MENNO J. ISEBRANDSq 

